Nowadays it is hard to justify not wearing a helmet because you think it makes you look dorky. There are a lot of different cool colors, styles, and accessories in the helmet line to assist in making you look super cool while on your bike. Helmets should fit snug, but without any pressure points, should have an easy to adjust tension system, fit your budget, and you should enjoy the way it looks. There are three main types of helmets: road, mountain and urban. Below are some cool bike helmets from each of these categories.
Cool Bike Helmets to Consider per Your Riding Type
A bike helmet is not just a bike helmet. The full face helmet a downhill mountain biker wears is built for different impacts than what a road helmet is designed for. Functionality wise, they are also a bit different because the riding conditions are different from road riding compared to mountain biking compared to a helmet for around riding around town. Having the correct type of helmet for the type of riding you’re doing is very important. Plus you don’t look as cool wearing a road helmet on the trails or vice versa.
Cool Road Bike Helmets
Road helmets are designed to have a lot streamlined vents, be aerodynamic, and they do not come with visors. The high-density foam in road helmets is built up on the temple as well as the front of the helmet since that is where the majority of impact occurs when crashing on the road.
Giro Synthe
The Giro Synthe is top of the line for road bike helmets. It is the most aerodynamic well-ventilated helmet on the market today. The Synthe is sleek, light-weight, very breathable, and a very cool bike helmet. Giro Synthe
Catlike Whisper
The Catlike Whisper is one of the most recognizable helmets out there. It comes with upward of 30 vents, and has a unique look similar to that of a beehive. While it is not as aerodynamic as other road helmets, it makes up for it in comfort, light-weight and mad style points. It is also the official helmet of the Movistar Professional cycling team. Black Catlike Whisper
Cool Mountain Bike Helmets
Mountain bike helmets are different from road helmets in several ways. There are usually fewer vents in comparison to road helmets, but they are deeper because the average speed in mountain biking is slower than on the road, so the air will flow up and out of the helmet versus through. Mountain bike helmets come with a visor, and the foam is more built up at the back of the helmet since it is much more common to fall backward while riding on the trails versus the road.
POC Tectal Race
POC is a Swedish company that manufactures some of the coolest helmets around. The Tectal Race from POC is highly ventilated, offers exceptional coverage for the temple and rear of the head and is built specifically for the extreme cross-country and enduro mountain bike rider. POC Pink Tectal Race
Smith Forefront
The Smith Forefront helmet offers a full coverage helmet that is designed for all-mountain racing and shredding. It is a low-volume helmet and is very well ventilated and comes with a mesh covering the many vents to protect from dirt and bugs falling into the helmet. Smith Forefront (MIPS)
Cool Urban Helmets
Urban helmets will often come equipped with a light mount, a removable visor, and really tough outer shells. They often look more like hats than road and mountain bike helmets do, and therefore it is easier to match to your outfit.
Bell Hub
The Bell Hub comes equipped with a light mount, a soft-brimmed visor, reflective trim and an easy to adjust tension system. The HUB also comes in a variety of colors both bright and sleek making it a versatile cool bike helmet option. BELL HUB
Giro Sutton
The Sutton from Giro comes in a variety of colors and has a soft removable visor which gives is a very cool Euro look. Plus one of the vents in the helmet is reinforced and can double as a lock port so you can lock the helmet to your bike. Giro Sutton (MIPS)
MIPS
Lots of helmets these days, both road, mountain and urban, have an extra safety feature built into them called MIPS. MIPS stand for multi-directional impact protection system. The technology behind MIPS uses two layers inside the helmet to help the head rotate slightly upon impact with the purpose being to reduce the severity of concussions. Purchasing a helmet with MIPS adds a bit to the cost, but it is an excellent extra safety feature to have.
Wearing a helmet every time you ride a bike is super important. With so many cool bike helmets for sale today, it is easy to find one to suit your color preference, style of riding and budget.